TO THE COURT OF AYA. 33 
army which was to accompany him, and heavy 
contributions began to be levied there in our 
very sight. A bill was formally sent in, to a 
British merchant of Rangoon, for the rent of a 
house belonging to the King, for the two years 
that the town had been in our possession. 
When this matter was mentioned to me, I re¬ 
monstrated with the Rewun* and other Bur- 
man deputies then present. They treated the 
complaint as a fabrication. I produced the bill, 
bearing the Rewun’s signature. They were 
not at all abashed. They said they were in 
need of money, and thought this a laudable at¬ 
tempt to raise the wind ! 
The present conference, which lasted two 
hours and a half, may, I believe, be considered 
a fair specimen of Burman diplomacy,—impor¬ 
tunate, oblique, but childish. The Burmese 
want the deep artifice and dexterity of the 
Hindoos and other Asiatics ; but as politicians 
they are not less fraudulent or unprincipled. 
It is considered wisdom in a Burman negotia¬ 
tor to attempt to overreach his antagonist by 
every possible artifice. Difficulties are thrown 
in the way at every step, and in the possible 
* Literally, Water Chief; this officer is the deputy of the 
Myowun, or Governor. 
VOL. I. 
D 
